For over 150 years, A Ship in a Storm hung in a Maltese home, having been passed down from generation to generation. On an overcast day, it was easy to walk past the canvas without stopping; however, on a bright day, the burst of light that could now be seen through the threatening clouds was mesmerising. There was something about this painting that was both mysterious and enigmatic.
It was not until last summer that the owners decided to find out who the artist of their oil painting was. Little did they know that they were embarking on a journey that would involve contacting top British, European and Canadian maritime art experts, only to find the answer on their very doorstep, here in Malta.
Ironically, what initially complicated the search was the inscription on the painting’s frame. Dated 1834, the plaque seemed to prove beyond a doubt that the painting had been presented by Admiral Burrard Neale to Captain Jas Wemyss; though both men were naval officers who hailed from the British aristocracy, the occasion for the presentation was left unstated. The family and those they consulted wrongly assumed that the artist was most likely a well-known British maritime artist of that era.
Finally, a friend recommended renowned art restorer Pierre Bugeja, who put the family on the right track. Although the painting was not signed, he noted that the style was in keeping with other paintings by Giovanni Schranz. Furthermore, he pointed out that the frame most probably did not belong to the painting as it had been cut in a certain manner not typical of that period.
On Mr Bugeja’s recommendation, the family approached Prof. John Schranz, who for many years has been researching the history of his artist ancestors; to their amazement he informed them that an almost identical watercolour painting existed.
Interestingly enough, the ship depicted in the oil painting – HMS Rodney – is linked to the tragic story of Thomas McSweeney, a 23-year-old Irish Catholic who was executed in 1837 on board the Rodney in the Grand Harbour for accidentally killing a fellow sailor (See ‘The fate of a young, polite, fair-haired man’ by Fabian Mangion, The Sunday Times of Malta, June 4, 2017).
Hanged on June 8, 1837, from the Rodney’s yardarm in full view of the Maltese population, McSweeney became a sympathetic figure because of this miscarriage of justice. To this day, a steady stream of believers visit McSweeney’s grave at St Lawrence Cemetery in Vittoriosa where they pray and ask for his intercession. The incident has fired the imagination of many overseas visitors, and a book on the subject, entitled The Reel of the Hanged One was published in 2012 by British author Alan Markland.
This year marks the 200th anniversary of the Schranz family’s arrival in Malta, which is being commemorated with an exhibition of their works at Fort St Elmo.
Although Ship in a Storm will unfortunately not be on display, art lovers are encouraged to take the opportunity to visit this unique exhibition, which is on until July 17. Among the exhibits visitors will also see a practically identical sepia wash rendering of the same subject as the oil painting in question – a mirror image of it, in fact.